School Programs & Trips
Educational School Programs & Field Trips in Greater Cleveland
At Holden Forests & Gardens, we believe learning happens best when it’s hands-on, curious, and outside the classroom. Our school programs and field trips help students explore science and nature through real-world experiences, bringing lesson plans to life in forests, gardens, and natural spaces. From guided ecosystem explorations to interactive, curriculum-aligned outdoor education programs, we support classroom learning through movement, observation, and discovery. Designed for school groups of all ages, Holden Forests & Gardens offers educational field trips and on-site school programs that spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and make learning stick.
School Programs
Sprouting Young Scientists (SPYS)
Preschool
$150 per program (3-4 programs per year)
Holden guided lessons accompany the books to support early learners in investigating plants through hands-on activities and problem-solving scenarios. 1 hour program, 3-4 programs throughout the year. If you are… more
Growing Students in Science
Grades 2-5
Empower your 2nd-5th grade students with a transformative Growing Students in Science program, designed to foster inquiry-based learning and real-world application of scientific concepts. This dynamic program seamlessly integrates place-based… more
School Trips to Holden Arboretum
Arboretum Adventures: Highlights Tour
K-8
$10.00 per student. One adult chaperone required per 10 students (free)
Holden Arboretum
Engage your students in the wonders of nature with a guided tour through some of Holden’s most cherished landscapes. As they journey through display gardens and diverse ecosystems, they’ll experience… more
College Self Guided Tour
College
$10 per student
Holden Arboretum
Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Tower are open April-October. Bring the whole class! $10 per student. Please note – if you have a special request that does not fit within… more
Self Guided Tour
Grades PK – 12
$8 per student
Holden Arboretum
Murch Canopy Walk and Kalberer Tower are open April-October. $8 per student. One adult chaperone is required per 10 students (free). One adult per five students is admitted free; additional… more
Little Mountain
Grade 7- College
$13.00 per student
Holden Arboretum
Little Mountain is the highest point in Lake County. Once a woodland retreat where wealthy Clevelanders escape the summer heat, it has once again become a preserved and managed woodland… more
Lifecycles of Plants: Growing Through Changes
Grades 2-4
$10.00 per student
Holden Arboretum
Flowering plants produce seeds that sprout, grow to maturity, bloom, and create another generation of seeds, so life on earth continues. 1.5 hours $10 per student. One adult chaperone required… more
Stebbins Gulch
Grade 7- College
$13.00 per student
Holden Arboretum
This unique area was designated in 1968 by the U.S. Department of Interior as a National Natural Landmark. Stebbins Gulch is a ravine system where the exposed bedrock is easily… more
Interdependence: Links Between Plants and Animals
Grades 1-3
$10.00 per student
Holden Arboretum
Students collect data on forest inhabitants and make first-hand observations of the ways they are interdependent. They also learn about the extraordinary ways plants defend themselves. 2 hours $10 per… more
Pond Adaptations
Grades PK – 5
$10.00 per student
Holden Arboretum
Grade PreK Experience a pond first-hand using your senses to make discoveries about this special place. Learn about the diversity and adaptations of the animals and plants that live in… more
Forest Discovery-Habitats and Ecosystems
Grades PK – 5
$10.00 per student
Holden Arboretum
Grade PreK Experience a forest first-hand using your senses to make discoveries about this special place. Learn about the diversity and adaptations of the animals and plants that live in… more
Leaf Discovery at Holden Arboretum
All Ages
$8 per student
Holden Arboretum
Note: This program is teacher-directed. $8 per student. One adult chaperone required per 10 students(free). One adult per five students admitted free; additional adults are $8.00 per person. This program… more
School Trips to Cleveland Botanical Garden
Frost Self-Guided Tour for Students
PK-High School
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Perfect for homeschool groups, scout troops, and single classes of students from Preschool through High School. A self-guided visit to Cleveland Botanical Garden allows you to enjoy Frost attractions at… more
Berry Biology
High School
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Uncover the secrets of plant genetics in Berry Biology, where students extract real DNA from strawberries and explore how genetics links cell structure, biodiversity, and exciting science careers. Bring your students… more
Canopies Create Healthy Communities
High School
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Discover how trees create healthier cities and inspire careers in this hands-on, science- driven exploration of urban ecology! Empower your students to see the forest and the trees- as climate… more
Leaf Discovery at Cleveland Botanical Garden
All Ages
$8 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
A self-guided visit to the Cleveland Botanical Garden allows you to enjoy the gardens at your own pace and structure your visit around what your students are currently learning, as… more
Biodiversity in Your Backyard
High School
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Explore invasive plants’ impact on biodiversity through interactive simulations before conducting field surveys in the gardens’ collection. Biodiversity in Your Backyard is a school program designed for 9th-12th graders which… more
Power of Plants at Cleveland Botanical Garden
PK – 6
$13 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Power of Plants or “POP” is an interactive program geared towards children aged 3-12 (grades PK-6) and their adult chaperones. What do people get from plants? Show your smarts or… more
College Self Guided Tour
College
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Offered Year-round Bring the whole class! $10 per student. Please note – if you have a special request that does not fit within the available options, please reach out to… more
Plants and Me
Grades PK-2
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Plants are all around us – we see them in parks and gardens, dotted along walkways and parking lots, and even on our plates! Over the course of this program,… more
Is it Alive?
Grades PK-1
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Check availability by clicking on the BOOK NOW button below. 1.5 hours $10 per student. One adult chaperone required per 10 students (free). One adult per five students admitted free;… more
Butterflies in the Garden
Grades PK-3
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Guided discussions about metamorphosis help learners discover how plants play an important role in the lives of these interesting insects Check availability by clicking on the BOOK NOW button below…. more
Garden Variety Tour
Grades PK – 8
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Check availability by clicking on the BOOK NOW button below. 1 hour $10 per student. One adult chaperone required per 10 students (free). One adult per five students admitted free;… more
Sensory Tour
Grades PK-8
$10 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Check availability by clicking on the BOOK NOW button below. 1.5 hours $10 per student. One adult chaperone required per 10 students (free). One adult per five students admitted free;… more
Self Guided Tour
Grades PK – 12
$8 per student
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Offered Year-round $8 per student. One adult chaperone required per 10 students (free). One adult per five students admitted free; additional adults are $8.00 per person. Please note – if… more
